(Adnkronos) – US Vice President J.D. Vance sought to mend ties with the pro-Israel Republican community, speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) summit. According to Politico, Vance directly addressed what he called “the elephant in the room”: the sharp decline in support for Israel among young Americans. “There is growing distrust, among those under 40, regarding the relationship between the United States and Israel,” he stated, arguing that Republicans must explain “why this relationship is in the interest of the United States of America” and concretely illustrate the advantages of the alliance. According to Vance, it is no longer sufficient to rely on arguments that might have worked “30 or 40 years ago,” because “the country is different and young people view the issue differently.”
The intervention comes after months of tensions between Vance and some sectors of the pro-Israel community, fueled by the vice president’s more cautious stance on the war against Iran, his criticisms of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, and his relationships with personalities skeptical of Israel, such as commentator Tucker Carlson. Vance also addressed the issue of antisemitism, explicitly condemning theories like the blood libel and defining hatred towards Jews as “corrosive to the soul.” The speech was favorably received by the RJC leadership, a significant sign also in view of a possible Vance candidacy for the White House in 2028. Republican Senator Jim Banks stated that the vice president “hit the mark with the audience” and received “several standing ovations.” For Ari Fleischer, an RJC board member and former White House spokesman, “today was not primary day, but it was a day of progress for J.D. Vance with the Jewish community.”
